Is it a les paul? Difference between 100 vs standard

[hotmama]

Okay I just bought my son an Epiphone by Gibson guitar from a pawn shop. How do I determine if its a Les Paul?

Also, if it is, how do I tell whether it is a 100 or a Standard?

I dont know a thing about guitars, but wanted to make sure I get him a good guitar. I researched the serial # and it was made in Korea in 1996.

Thanks for all of your help!

[sasquatch]

Pics Needed Please.
Helps immensely when blind-folded and asked to determine.
Thanks.

[qwank]

yeah we need pics. in '96 there was a LP100 and LP300 also. could be a studio or custom too.

is it set neck or a bolt on neck.

[djwilbanks]

and how much did you pay, cuz you might want to take the guitar back to the pawn shop and shove it up the owner's rear if got one of these:



for more than 75 USD

[BigJza]

the dreaded special ii? lets hope not

[djwilbanks]

Hah, nothing really wrong with the special II... the annoying thing is that pawn shop owners try to pass them off as.. Well Epiphone by Gibson's and charge 400-500 dollars for them...



at least my local shops charge that....

[BigJza]

they are kinda overpriced around here for 250 and up...as far as LP's go, there are better copies in that price range...I almost bought one but bought used instead for 20 bucks cheaper lol

[Akahito]

Originally Posted by hotmama

Okay I just bought my son an Epiphone by Gibson guitar from a pawn shop. How do I determine if its a Les Paul?

Also, if it is, how do I tell whether it is a 100 or a Standard?

I dont know a thing about guitars, but wanted to make sure I get him a good guitar. I researched the serial # and it was made in Korea in 1996.

Thanks for all of your help!

Les Paul guitars all look very similar, you'll find an example below. Epiphone makes dozens of different guitars, and all of them aren't Les Pauls, so if your son wanted an Epiphone Les Paul, you should've asked for Les Pauls and not Epiphones.

As far as telling them apart goes, look at the neck: If it has white dots on it like this:

then it's not a Standard. All Standards have the taper rectangle inlays, like this:


Also in the slightest chance there would be a Standard with dot inlays, turn the guitar around and look at where the neck joins the body: If there's a metal plate and screws, it's a 100 and not a Standard, as the latter have the neck glued on -> no apparent seam and no additional reinforcement.
For example:

vs.


If it turns out you got a 100, as long as you didn't pay the price of a Standard, I'm sure your son will appreciate it. It's not a bad guitar per se, especially if your son is just starting out; there are just better ones out there. With some (relatively inexpensive) upgrades to the hardware and electronics, and a proper setting up by a paid pro, it'll sound and play just as good to the ears of most.

[hotmama]

Thanks everyone. The guitar that I bought looked just like this :


It is a bolt on guitar so I would assume its a 100. Does that make is a Les Paul?
He didnt specify why type of guitar he wanted. He already had a First Act (his first electric guitar) so I wanted to get him an upgrade.



P.S. I am going to take some real pix tomorrow and upload them!

[qwank]

Originally Posted by Akahito

As far as telling them apart goes, look at the neck: If it has white dots on it like this:

then it's not a Standard. All Standards have the taper rectangle inlays, like this:

not always true. LP300s had bolt on necks with trapazoid inlays

[diceman]

Is the top of the body flat, or carved? LP100 if carved, LP Special if not.

[diceman]

Carved top:



Flat top is just that... flat.

[Akahito]

Originally Posted by qwank

not always true. LP300s had bolt on necks with trapazoid inlays

Ah, I see, good to know. But at least the bolt-on neck is a dead-sure giveaway.

Hotmama, check the headstock if there's any inscription painted on the black, or chiseled into the trussrod coverplate, to see what model it might be. The Les Paul Specials have a flat top and only two control knobs (+a switch of course) where the 100:s have an arched "fat belly" top and four knobs, and the switch is located in the upper left wing like in the picture.

As to what makes a Les Paul, there are many criteria. First and most loose is the shape, which of course groups all the LP-shaped guitars under the same umbrella, even though they can have very little in common as instruments. Second is the set neck construction and Gibson's 24.75" scale. This is where most cheaper bolt-on neck Les Pauls separate from the rest, though they can still sound and feel a lot like a Les Paul.
The Les Paul trademark is owned by Gibson and nobody else, and Epiphone, being Gibson's daughter company, is allowed to use the Les Paul brand on license. Therefore all Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls are "the real deal", being the only instruments the man and guitarist, Les Paul has lended his name onto.
The characteristic pickup type for LP's are the dual humbuckers, although we sometimes see single coil "soapbar" P-90 pickups, which by the way are the original 1952 spec pickups for Les Pauls. The dual humbuckers, the separate adjustable bridgepiece and stopbar tail are the key to the characteristic Les Paul sound, so even the cheapest models, albeit otherwise different, are most of the time given these original features.
Other features that make the original Gibson Les Paul are mahogany body with carved maple cap, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood or ebony fretboard (depending on model) and ebony headstock top. This configuration makes the Les Paul one of the heavier electric guitars, so in addition to saving in production costs, cheaper Les Pauls (and other guitars too) that are mostly marketed for beginners and young players, are often made of basswood or alder to ease the weight on those little shoulders.

[dennistruckdriver]

I am interested in photos of hotmama.....

[diceman]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

I am interested in photos of hotmama.....

I didn't have the balls to say it... but the thought sure crossed my mind.

[LEFTY LES]

I hope hotmamma got a good deal. Hope he only pay about $100 bucks or so for it. I hate to see people get screwed.

We need to tell you anything man.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by diceman

I didn't have the balls to say it... but the thought sure crossed my mind.

Often, by the time the thought has crossed my mind, it has already crossed my lips....or in this case, my fingers.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

I am interested in photos of hotmama.....